The Fordham Law School has announced the launch of a new dual-concentration LL.M degree option. Students accepting the option can remain at Fordham Law for an additional semester of full-time study (or the equivalent for part-time students) to complete 12 credits in a second LL.M. discipline. Students who complete the course would receive an LL.M in two disciplines phrased like, “LL.M. Degree in International Business and Trade Law and International Dispute Resolution”.
Students can choose to combine any of two current LL.M. concentrations available on school curricula including, Banking, Corporate, and Finance Law; Corporate Compliance; Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law; International Business and Trade Law; International Dispute Resolution; International Law and Justice; U.S. and Comparative Law.
While many in the legal academia as well as those in the political arena are talking of shortening the number of years required for studying law, Fordham reasons, “we anticipate that the addition of a third semester will give students greater flexibility to pursue opportunities such as externships and clinics that may be difficult to complete in just two semesters.”
Toni Jaeger-Fine, assistant dean for international and non-J.D. programs at Fordham Law said, “The new dual-concentration program will help students compete in the current legal market by giving them the opportunity to fully explore a second area of study…” Students who participate in the program must complete a minimum of 36 credits in total.
Possibly, for international students, the announcement stated, “Note that students who wish to take a bar examination may opt to do so after two semesters of study as long as they have completed all of the requirements for one of the degree programs at the end of two semesters (and provided that they fulfill all the requirements imposed by the relevant bar authority.)”